MILAN: Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has ruled out a return to the English Premier League (EPL) until after his contract in Italy expires in 2012.

Mourinho, who was Chelsea boss from 2004-07, stated last week that he would be keen to manage in England again.

However, he has since said: “I was happy in England and when I left there I said one day I would go back. One day could mean 2012 or 2020. I’m happy at Inter and want to respect my contract which runs until 2012.”

Inter are eight points clear at the top of Serie A, having won the title last season — Mourinho’s first in charge. However, in an interview with Portuguese paper Expresso, he also hinted that he is not totally happy in Italy by saying Serie A coaches were more concerned about keeping their jobs than developing new tactics.

“When after a third of the Italian championship nine coaches have lost their jobs, who is the coach that wants to innovate?” he said.

“The Serie A coach does not want to innovate, he wants to survive. In England coaches go way beyond their first contract, even beyond the second and the third one and continue developing their work.” Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge in March when his Inter side meet Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League.